Why so serious?

Well boys and girls, the time is at hand. Tonight at 12:01 AM, the first live-action Batman film without the word "Batman" hits the theaters; The Dark Knight.

First and foremost, let's put to rest the entire disdain revolving around Heath Ledger's Joker. Jack Nicholson's Joker was more reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s Joker, which after the Comics Code Authority censorship board, shifted the Joker to the comical, tricking, laughing hyena that Nicholson portrayed ever so elegantly. Now, don't get me wrong, Nicholson played a brilliant Joker, truly capturing the insane, cackling, though rather tame, murderous lunatic that was the Joker during the 1950s and 1960s. Ledger captures the true essences of the Joker. A being so "super-sane", so diabolical, so raw and edgy, and in all truth...makes the viewer question the definition of sane and insane.

Sure, the Joker was known for his gags and tricks, though they often involved acts which this writer will not divulge due to their rather disturbing nature. Too often do people get caught up in the clean cut, neat suit, slicked back hair, white teeth grin of the comic book Joker. Ledger managed to capture the Joker's true personality, while "real-worlding" the character. Do you honestly think the greatest comic book villain of all time, according to Wizard magazine, and Batman's archenemy would be some bumbling, joking criminal?

Needless to say there is so much more going on in The Dark Knight besides the rebirth of The Joker. You have the entire internal conflict between Bruce Wayne and Batman, which is truly the mask? The introduction of district attorney Harvey Dent, and his inevitable fall to crime and evil. It's sure to be 2 hours and 30 minutes of quality movie.

I'll be out there enjoying the evening and movie with my girlfriend Crystal, if you see us, give a shout!